Inhaler



Dec. 18, 1934. H. M. THOMETZ INHALER Filed July 1, 1935 lhvllllmvllll [Wlb J lilllllllllliil lllllllllllllllllllffllulllmh L 2 ZgZZ PatentedDec. 18, 1934 y I I Q UNITED STATES j PATENT OFFICE.

was mamm- App cation July 1, 1933,v Serial 80. 678,577 40mm;(01.128-200) The present invention relates to an inhaler The inventionin the present instance is pri-' but more particularly to a novel andimproved marily intended as a pocket inhaler in which a form of inhaleradapted to contain aporousmamedicament or an inhalant remedy that has aterial to be saturated with a proper volatile sedative and soothingaction on inflamed mucus I medicament through which air is drawn withmembranes throughout the entire respiratory the volatilized substanceinto the nostrils" of tract may be conveniently carried in the pocketthe user. or hand bag .of a person for intermittent use so The primaryobject of the present invention as to relieve congestion, checksecretion and aid is to provide a novel and improved form of inin thetreatment of colds, hay fever, hyperhaler, which automatically closesafter each use aesthetic rhinitis, sinus infections, nasal con- 10thereof, so as to prevent the evaporation of the gestion from whatevercause, asthma and volatile medicinal substance with which thedebronchitis. vice is charged. W In illustrating one form of myinvention -I A further object of the invention is to provide have shownthe same as comprising an outer a novel and improved inhaler of theportable or cylindrical casing generally indicated by-the ref-1.15pocket type form which can be concealed in erence character 10. Thiscasing 10 is-provided the palm of one hand and manipulated or openedwith a closed bottom 11 and an opening at the by the thumb of the samehand without making upper end thereof. The upper portion of the oneselfor the device conspicuous. casing 10 is provided with a reduced portion,as

A further object 'ofthe invention isto provide. shown at 12, forming ashoulder 13. This re- 20 a novel and improved inhaler in which the outerduced portion 12 telescopically receives in fricv 4 1 casing is providedwith internal longitudinally tional engagement therewith, a cap ornozzle 14. extending spaced apart ribs soas to reduce the Located on oneside of the casing 10 and extend-- friction resistance of and permit aninternal ing vertically through the reduced portion 12- 4 85 cylindricalcasing which contains the medicaand extending into the casing proper ashort as meat to reciprocate therein with perfect ease so distance belowthe top thereof, is a slot 15. The that the action of the spring mayautomaticap 14 is provided with an'internal longitudically close andprevent the evaporation of the nally extending rib 22' which is adaptedto seat medicament. in the complementary slot 15 of the casing 10. 80These and other objects are accomplished by Located within the 1cylindrical casing 10, at providing a construction and arrangement ofthe equally spaced apartdistances within the intervarious parts in themanner hereinafter defnal circumference thereof, are three spacedscribed and particularly pointed out in the ap-- apart inwardlyprojecting ribs 16 which project pended claims. inwardly with respect tothe diameter of .the in-Q 85 Referring to the drawing: side of thecasing 10 a few thousandths of an Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinallycrosssecinch, but for the purpose of illustration, are extional view ofmy improved form of inhaler aggerated in this drawing. The purpose ofshowing the same in'closed position; these inwardly projecting ribs 16is to reduce Fig. 2 'is a similar enlarged longitudinalcross' thefrictional resistance of the reciprocating 40 sectional viewshowing theinhaler open and internal container hereinafter described. Lo- "40 readyfor use; cated adjacent the'lower portion of the con- Fig. 3 is anenlarged side elevational view with tainer 10 and extending through eachof the a portion thereof broken away showing the conribs 16 are spacedapart apertures 1'7. Iteciprostruction andoperation of the outsidecasing cally mounted within the casing 10 isa cylin- 4 with respect tothe internal cylinder drical container, generally indicated by the ref-Fig. 4' is a cross sectional view taken on the erence character 18. Thelower end of this line 4-4 in Fig. 1; cylindrical. casing 18 is openedwhile the upper Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken. on the end isprovided with a top, generally indicated line 5-5 in Fig. 2; by thereference character 19, and is also pro- Fig. 6 is a cross sectionalview taken on the vided with arcuate spaced openings of which 50 line6-6 in Fig. 2;- there are four in number and generally indi- Fig. 7 is across sectional view taken on the cated by the reference character 20.This top line 7-7 in Fig. 2; and portion 19 forms a substantially discshaped flat Fig; 8 is a perspective view of the external surface, asshown at 21, and is of sufficient cylinder or casing. diameter to coverthe opening 22 located in the as nozzle 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 1of the draw-' ing. Formed integrally with'the internal container l8 'andextending laterally with'respect thereto is a. laterally projecting lug23 which'is adapted to extend through the slot 15 in the. outer casing10 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, :2"

and -3'of the drawing. Located in the lower portion ofthe innercylindrical casing 18 and adapted to register with the perforation 17 inthe casing 10 when in one position, are spaced apart apertures 24. Theinner cylindrical cas-' ing- 18 is automatically pressed. upwardly withrespect to the outer casing 10 by means of-a helically coiled springwhich has its large diameter engaging the lower edge and opened' end ofthe inner casing 18 and its lower. end and small diameter seated on anupwardly projecting boss 26 formed in the bottom 11 of the outer casing.Loosely contained. within the inner cylindrical. casing 18 isanunmedicated dry porous filler28 which is adapted to be saturated withany suitable medicament which .will relieve the conditions previouslyreferred to of the respiratory tract.

The operation'yof my improved inhaler is as follows: Let us assume thatthe inhaler is in the closed position shown in Fig- 1 and that theoperator is desirous of charging or saturating the dry porous illler 28with a medicament.

all

The liquid is poured into the opening 22 in the cap or nozzle '14, whichserves as a measure and after the aperture 22 has been filled, the thumbmay actuate the lug 23, so as to move it downwardly. in a slot 15-thereby moving the inner cylindrical casing 18 with respect to the outercasing 10 and permit the liquid to pass through the openings 20 inth'einner casing to saturate the porous dry filler 28.

In the use of my improved inhaler, the device is sufliciently small andcompact to fit into the palm of a hand of the user and arranged so thatthe thumb of the same hand may manipulate the lug 23 to move theinternal container 18 downwardly with respect to the outer casing 10against the pressure of the spring 26. When moved from the positionshown. in Fig. 1. to thatshown in Fig. 2, the inhalant vapors may bedrawn upwardly in the manner indicated by the arrows, through thealigned apertures 17 and 24 in the respective outside and inside casingsin response to the inspiratory action of the nostrils when the inhaleris placed in position with the nozzle or cap 14 at the entrance to thenostril. It will be readily observed from the above description andillustration of thedrawing, that by providing the three internal ribs onthe outer casing 10, the frictional resistance to the action of thespring and the manipulation of the lug 23 is a reduced to a minimum.That upon releasing the lug 23, the

device automatically closes thus preventing the evaporation of theinhalant contained in the inhaler.

From the above construction it will be readily seen that I have provideda simple, compact and automatically operable inhaler which can beconveniently carried about in a pocket or hand bag and which also can beconcealed within 'the palm of a hand without making oneself or thedevice conspicuous.. 1 a

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment whichmy invention may assume in practice, it will of course be un derstoodthe same is capable of modification and that modification may be madewithout departing from-the'spirit and scope of the inven tion asexpressed inthe following claims.

'What I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l.- An'inhaler comprising-an outer cylindrical casing, longitudinallyspaced apart ribs extend-Q ing inwardly from the inner surface of saidcasing, a reciprocable cylindrical casing within said outer casing and:adapted toengag'e said ribs, said outer casing having alongitudinal slotadjacent-the upper-end thereof, alug carried by said inner casing andextending through said slot, for reciprocating said inner casing' withrespect to said ,outer casing, a noule secured totheupper'end-of saidoutercasing having an aperture extending therethrough, a closure portionformed at the upper end of said inner casing and adapted to close theaperture in said nozzle, there being-spaced apart apertures in 'saidouter casing extending through the ribs thereof, and a compressionspring located in the'bottom of said outside casing and .engageable'with'the lower end of said internal casing for normally actuating theinner casing, upwardly with respect to the outer casing, there beingspaced apart apertures in said innercasing adaptedv to register inalignment with the apertures in. said outer casing when the inner casingis depressed with respect to the outer-..

casing.

2. An inhaler adapted to be operated by one hand comprising acylindrical outer casing having a bottom formed integrally'therewith andopened at the top thereof, a reciprocable inner casing mounted withinsaid outer casing, said outer casing having a longitudinal slot in thewall thereof, a lug formed on said inner casing and projecting throughsaid slot for actuating said inner casing with respect to said;

outer casing, spaced apart longitudinally extending ribs formed in theinner surface of said inner casing forming the frictional contactbetween said casings, a cap frictionally secured to the upper end ofsaid-outer casing having an aperture therein, a closure portion formedintegrally with the upper part of said inner casing adapted to cover theopening in said cap, a plurality of spaced apart apertures located inthe lower end of said outer casing and extending,

through said ribs, there being a plurality of spaced apertures in thelower portion of said inner casing adapted to register in alignment withthe apertures in said outer casing when said inner casing assumes apredetermined posi-. tion with respect to said outer casing, and aspring mounted between said outer casing and said inner casing forautomatically actuating said inner casing upwardly with respect to saidouter casing and closing the aperture in said cap.

3. An inhaler adapted to be concealed in the palm of one hand andadapted to be manipulated by the thumb of the same hand, comprising acylindrical casing having a bottom and a ren. t r ei a p uraiitri otspaced apart apertures located in the lower. P t n of said outer casingand extendingv through said ribs,

there being a plurality oi apertures in the lower portion of said innercasing adapted to be moved into registering alignment with the aperturesin said outer casing when the inner casing is depressed with respect tothe outer casing, a spring for automatically moving said inner casingupwardly with respect to said outer casing for closing the aperture insaid cap, and a laterally projecting lug formed: integrally with saidinner casing and extending through the longitudinal slot in said outercasing whereby said inner casing may be manipulated with respect to said-outercasing for withdrawing the inhalant therethe reduced portionthereof, said cap having an aperture therein, a closure portion formedat the upper end of said internal casing having apertures therearoundand arranged so as to cover the aperture in said cap, a spring mountedbetween the lower ends of each of said casings for normally urging saidinner casing upwardly with respect to said outside casing for closingthe aperture in said cap, there being a plurality of circumierentiallyarranged apertures at the lower portions of each of the casings adaptedto register when the inner casing is depressed with respect to the outercasing, the apertures in the outer casing extending through said ribs, ahelically coiled spring having one of its ends engaging a boss in thebottom or said outer casing and the other of its ends engaging the loweredge said inner casing for normally urging said inner casing upwardlywith respect to said outer casing for closing the opening in said cap,and a laterally projecting lug extending through said slot in the outercasing whereby-said inner casing may be moved downwardly by the thumb ofthe hand in which said inhaler is supported so that the inhalentcontained in the inhaler may be withdrawn by the respiratory action 01'the nostrils.

HARRY M. 'I'HOMETZ.

